Today was a good day. Warm sunshine, and plenty to see. It started early, out in the fields. A buzzard was flying over the trees (evading seagulls), and goldfinches were singing from the higher branches. Out in the fields the lambs were bleating. But turning away from all those I picked up on a theme from yesterday. Four red legged partridges were picking their way through the green shoots of spring. Here's one pair.
At lunchtime the sun was still up, and I walked across to Falmer Pond. The ducklings are still there, and the greater spotted woodpecker was tantalizingly evasive. I saw him several times but never with enough warning to even threaten a photo. The moorhen is still incubating her eggs, but others of her kind were happily preening and posing.
The hint of summer came just as I was leaving the pond. A lone swallow was sweeping the surface of the pond hunting insects. In a little while this will become a busy feeding ground for them, something that I relish with some reservation. Fabulous to watch but one of the most frustrating sights to capture well on camera. This is today's effort. It would have been so much better if it had flown in from the other direction!
The garden did me proud as well! We have three hedgehogs, and of course Shutterbug the fox who was exceedingly interested in two of them.
At least he restricted himself to sniffing tonight, and eventually retreated under the shrubs for a well earned rest.
There were other creatures about as well. I didn't see them, but Shutterbug heard them and disappeared behind the fence at the rear of the garden. I could hear plenty of scuffling, and it sounded like he was trying to scale the fence (it's definitely too high for him). I even scanned the trees as it sounded like he may have gone climbing, possibly after a bird (it's a family trait). I don't know. So either prey, or another fox, or possibly a badger lurking.
He returned a few minutes later, and settled back to hedgehog 'guarding' duties!
And heck, here's a duckling! 😀
Camera note: all daytime shots taken with the Canon 7D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens. The night shots were taken with the EF70-300mm 4.5-5.6 DO IS lens.
RobinL
7 Apr 2011Words, wonderful shots. SB is certainly photogenic! A very handsome fellow.
I love the swallow shot. I'm afraid I haven't had much luck with even getting them in the viewfinder!
cakkleberrylane
7 Apr 2011You've indeed had a great day! Wonderful pictures! Very nice action shot of the swallow too. The birds I photograph seem to have the idea that their backsides are more photogenic than their frontsides and present me with that view.
Words
7 Apr 2011Robin, last night was a good night with the fox. It's nice when they are more concerned with their own world than the human one. I also have severe viewfinder trouble with swallows and swifts but have learnt to figure out their likely flight path and then wait. Otherwise I end up in knots! I really need to find an angle where they fly in towards me. More time to pick them up. Lateral flight is nearly impossible to catch.
Words
7 Apr 2011Lois, they're just putting on a display for you ;).
Words
7 Apr 2011Erwin, thanks!
gdare
7 Apr 2011That fox is beautiful. Duckling also 😀
Words
7 Apr 2011Darko, thanks!
SittingFox
11 Apr 2011That is one plump hedgehog!
Weather-wise, we seem to have gone from November to July in the space of a few days! Nice shots – I haven't seen any swallows yet.
Words
12 Apr 2011Adele, that's the giant hedgehog (the other two are quite a bit smaller). He sure is big! The cool weather is on its way back, but I did see two swallows today.
Wulpen
19 Oct 2012Great Pict